Combined cigarette case and lighter



Jam. 3.9333. R FEUQER LILQSQED COMBINED CIGARETTE CASE AND LIGHTER Filed June 2l, 1932 ZW/Eg,4 7? 7g y# 24 e@ 77 M .29 4540 i y Patented Je. 1o, 1933 ROBERT FEURER, OF

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOB TO LA NATIONALE S.

AJ, OF

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, A. CORPORATION OF SWITZERLAND COMBINED cIGARE'r'rE CASE am) LIGHTER Application led June 21, 1932, Serial No The invention described herein relates to a combined cigarette case and lighter, the case being of a type comprising two parts movable in relation to each other for open-` ing and closing the case.

According to the invention, means are provided co-operating with the cigarette case and the lighter in such manner that the opening of the case sets the mechanism of the lighter, which mechanism is-then energized, released and operated during the closing movement of the case.

The object of the present invention may be applied more particularly to such cigarette cases as are constituted by two similar parts hinged to each other.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a general arrangement of the device, with the cigarette case open.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a section on an enlarged scale through the lighter, showing the latter in chfin-dotted lines in its operative position an Fig. 4 is a partial section of the lighter in a plan view at right angles to that of the section of Fig. 3.

The device illustrated and given by way of example therefore comprises a cigarette case 10 and a lighter 11.

The cigarette case is constituted by two parts 12, 13 connected together by a hinge le. These parts are provided with the usual mea-ns for holding the cigarettes in place and with locking members l5 for keeping the case closed. Y rEhe lighter is mounted in the part 12 of the cigarette case, and the part 13 of the latter has a partition 16 intended to isolate the cigarettes from the lighter when the device is closed.

IThe lighter 11 comprises a fuel (petrol) c reservoir 17 which can be filled through an opening closed b a p lug l18. A wick 19 held by a support 20 ips into the reservoir and is covere y a cap 21 integral with a cover22 when the lighter is closed. A. stone 2310i 618,573, and in Switzerland Hay 15, 1981.

pyrophoric material is supported in a sheath or sleeve 24 and presses against a milled disc or wheel 25 under the action of a spring 26. This milled disc is driven, by a pawl gear, 1n one direction owing to rotation o the toothed wheel 27. The latter is driven by a rack 28 slidable longitudinally on the reservoir 17.' This rack is held in place by a part 29 integral with the reservoiri This part has a cylindrical 'portionl 30 ,in which is mounted a helical spring 3'1. This spring rests at one end against the part 30, and at the other end against a pro]ecting part 32 integral with one end of the rack 28. The other end 55 of the rack is so cut as to adapt it to engage with one end of a bell crank lever 33 pivoted at 34 and controlled by a spring 37. This bell crank lever is provided with a hook 35 adapted to co-operate with a hook 36 integral with the cover 22. rlhe latter is controlled by the action of a spring 58 which tends to keep it always open as shown in chain-dotted lines in Figure 3.

In order to actuate the lighter during the closingo the cigarette case, a connecting ro 38 is pivoted at one of its ends to a bracket 39 riveted or screwed to the part 13 o the cigarette case, and at its other end to a guide 40 carryin a lever 41. The pivot pin 42 of this lever 1s constituted by a screw xed to a projection 43 of the guide and constituting also the pivot pin for the connecting rod 38. The guide l0 slides on two screws secured to the part 29.` The lever il which is pivoted close to its central partl at 42 is acted upon at its end 46' by a spring 47 which tends to keep its hooked end 48 always in engagement with the projecting part 32 of the rack 28. The spring 47 is secured to the guide 49 by a screw 49. The lever 41 is moreover provided with a projection 50 adapted to come in Contact with the part 13 of the cigarette case when the latter is about to be closed'.

The part 29 as well as the cylindrical part 30 are closed by a plate 51 secured by screws 52 to the part 29. The rack 28 and the spring 31 may be put in position when the sai plate is. removed. The cylindrical part as well as the part 29 are further provided with grooves for the passage of the rack and of its projecting portion when the rack is moved in the longitudinal direction.

A. protective plate screwed at 54 on the reservoir of the lighter, partly covers the latter'. This plate is provided with recesses for the passage of the connecting rod 38 and ofthe projection 50.

The working of the device is as follows:

When the cigarette caso 10 is closed, and

pressure exerted on the members 15, the two l parts 12 and 13 will be turned relatively to each other in the usual manne:` about the hinge pin 14 under the action oi' a spring not shown. During this turning, the connecting rod 38 is driven by the bracket 39 and drives with it the guide 40 and the lever 41.

As soon as the cigarette case is completely open, the various members of the device will be in the positions shown in the drawing in full lines. The lever 41 controlled by the spring 47 will engage by means of its hooked end 48 with the projecting part 32 of the rack, the spring 31 keeps the rack at the bottom of its travel in its position of rest.

If the two parts 12 and 13 are then turned down on each other, the connecting rod 38 will be pushed by the bracket 39 and will drive in its movement the guide 40 and the lever 41 to which it is connected at 42. The lever 41 drives with it the rack 28 in opposition to the action ofA the spring 31. The guide 40 slides on the screws 44 and 45. The rack, in moving in opposition to the action of the spring 31, will cock the latter and rotate the toothed wheel 27 in the clockwise direction (see Figure 3), but without driving the milled disc 25 owing to the pawl gear arranged between the said toothed wheel and the said milled or knurled disc.

When the rack reaches nearly the end of its cocking travel, its end cut with the lower surface bevelled off, will come in contact with the adjoining end of the bell crank lever 33 and produce the lowering ofthe said end. The lever 33 will then turn about 34 in opposition to the action of the spring 37, and this turning will bring about the disengagement of the two hooks 35 and 36 from each other.v The cover 22 will thus be released and will then pivot about the point 56 under the action of the spring 58 in order to come into the osition indicated in chaindotted lines in igure 3. The wick 19 will thus be uncovered; the lighter is cocked or ready for action.

The cigarette case is almost completely closed, and its part 13 comes then in Contact with the projection 50. The last movement for closing the cigarette case produces a pressure on the said projection 50 in the direction indicated by the arrow 57. This pressure turns the lever 41 in opposition to the action of the spring 47, and disengages the hooked end 48 from the projecting part 32. The rack will then be released, and will move quickly under the action of the spring 31 in order to return to its position of rest. During this movement, the rack drives the toothed wheel 27 and with it the milled disc 25. The latter rubs against the stone 23 and produces sparks which ignite the petrol with which the wick 19 is impregnated. The lighter' is lighted and the cigarette case is closed.

On turning the cover 22 from the position indicated in chain-dotted lines to the position shown in full lines (Figure 3) the 'cap 21 will be lowered on the wick 19, owing to which the flame will be extinguished, the hooks 35 and 3G will return to the position of engagement (the lever 33 having been brought back to its position of rest bythe spring 37). The

parts 12 and 13 of the clgarette case are held together by the members 15 and the device is therefore completely closed.

The connecting rod 38, the guide 40 and the lever 41 are in their position of rest, that is to say at the end of their movement which is the nearest to the milled disc 25. In this position, the hooked part 48 presses against the guide 40, the connecting rod 38 is between the hinge 14 and the screw 59, and the guide 40 is at the other end of its travel on the screws 44, 45. The next opening of the cigarette case returns the members to the position shown in full lines in the drawing.

The use of the device according to the present invention will be readily understood. The opening of the cigarette case enables cigarettes to be withdrawn from it, then the closing of the cigarette case produces the cocking and the operation of the lighter for the purpose of lighting the cigarette which has just been withdrawn. After the cover 22 is turned down, the device is ready to be replaced in the pocket. v

According to one modification of the invention:

The guide 40 and lever 41 are replaced by a sleeve which slides upon the cylindrical portion 30.

The rod 38 is as previously connected at one end to the bracket 39, but at its other end to said sleeve. This latter carries a spring actuated catch-lever which constantly tends to engage with the projecting part 32. For releasing this part 32, the rod 38 presents a protruding part which engages with a pin fixed to the catchflever, this engagement taking place at the end of the closing of the 1 cigarette case and moving the catch-lever, against the action of its spring, out of engagement With the part 32.

Further, the rack 28 is replaced by a rod carrying laterally a locking mechanism which actuates the sparking wheel 25, only when said rod is deplaced quickly by the spring 31. The tree'end of this rod is shaped exactly as that of the rack 28 and co-operates in the same manner with the lever 33.

said means comprising a I claim herein as my invention:

l. A combined cigarette case and lighter in which the cigarette case comprises two parts movable in relation to each other for opening and closing the case, means cooperating with the cigarette case and the lighter. said means comprising a connecting rod driven during the movement of the parts of the cigarette case, a lever and a guide therefor driven by the said connecting rod, the said lever being so secured to the said guide that it can turn, engage with, and move a rack for cocking the latter and getting it ready for action.

2. A combined cigarette case and lighter, in which the cigarette case, comprises two' parts'movable in relation to each other for opening and closing the case one of which parts carries the lighter, means cooperating with the cigarette case and the lighter, said means comprising a connecting rod, a bracket integral with the part of the cigarette case which does not carry the lighter, to which one end of said connecting rod is pivoted, a guide to which the other end of the connecting rod is pivoted, and a rack on the lighter, the said lever being so secured to the said guide that it can turn, engage with, and move the rack, for cooking the latter and getting it ready for action.

3. A combined cigarette case and lighter in which the cigarette case, comprising two parts movable in relation to each other for opening and closing the case, means cooper- 35 ating with the cigarette case and the lighter,

connecting rod driven during the movement et the parts of the cigarette case, a lever and a guide sliding on a member integral with the lighter driven by the said connecting rod, and a rack on the lighter, the said lever being so secured to lthe said guide that it can turn, engage with, and move the rack, for cooking the latter and getting it ready for action.

It. A combined cigarette case and lighter in which the cigarette case comprises two parts movable in relation to each other for opening and closing the case one of which parts carries the lighter, means co-operating with the cigarette case and the lighter, said means comprising a. connecting rod driven during the movement of the parts of the cigarette case, a lever and a guide driven by the said connecting rod, said lever being secured to said guide and pivoted near its center, a resiliently biased rack on the lighter, a hook at one end of the `lever, engaging with and moving said rack during the cockingK process of the latter, against the action of the resilient biasing means, a spring acting on the otb er end of the lever tending to keep it in engagement with the said rack, the part ot the cigarette case which does not carry the lighter acting on the lever in opposition to the action of the said spring at the inoment of complete closing of the cigarette case and releasing the rack, so that it can move under the action of its resilient biasing means, and means operable by said rack during its last-mentioned. movement, to ignite the lighter.

5. A combined cigarette case and lighter in which the cigarette case comprises two parts movable in relation to -each other for opening and closing the case one of which parts carries the lighter', means cooperating with the cigarette case and the lighter, said means-comprising a connecting rod driven during the movement of the parts of the cigarette case, a lever and a guide driven by the said connecting rod, said lever being secured tosaid guide and' pivoted near its center,

a resiliently biased rack on the lighter, a hook at one end of the lever, engaging with and moving said rack during the cooking process of the latter, against the action of the resilient biasing means, a spring acting on the other end of the lever, tending to keep it in engagement with the said rack, a projection on the lever, adapted to come into contact with the part of the cigarette case which does not carry the lighter, upon closure thereof, so as to turn the lever in opposition to the action of the spring at the moment of the complete closing of the cigarette case and to release the rack, so that it can move under the action of its resilient biasing means, and means operable by said rack during itsylast-mentioned movement, to ignite the lighter.

6. A combined cigarette case and lighter, in which the cigarette case comprises two parts movable in relation to each other for opening and closing the ease one of Which parts carries the lighter, means cooperating with the cigarette case and the lighter, said means comprising a. connecting rod driven during the movement of the parts of the cigarette case, a lever and a guide driven by the said connecting rod, said lever being secured to said guide and pivoted near its center, a resiliently biased rack on the lighter', a hook at one end of the lever, engaging with and moving said rack during the cooking process of the latter, against the action of the resilient bias, a spring carried bv the guide and acting on the other end of the lever, said spring tending to keep the lever in engagement with the said rack, the part of the cigarette case which does not carry the lighter acting on the lever in opposition to the action et the. said spring at the moment of the complete closing ot the cigarette case and releasing tlie rack so that it can move under the action oi its resilient biasing means, and means operable by said rack during its lastmentioned nio-vement, to ignite the lighter.

7. A combined cigarette case and lighter, in which the cigarette case comprises two parts movable in relation to each other for opening and closing the case, means cooperating with the cigarette case and the lighter whereby the opening of the-case sets the mechanism of the lighter, and means for energizing, releasing and operating said mechanism during the closing movement of the said case, said last-mentioned means comprising a rack on the lighter, a bell crank lever with which the rack cornes into engagement by one of its ends, at the end of its cocking er setting travel, a wick for the lighter, and a normallylatched cover for the said wick, which cover is released by the lever when the latter is actuated by the rack.

8. A combined cigarette case and lighter in which the cigarette case comprises two parts movable in relation to each other for opening and closing the same, means cooper- ,ating with the lcigarette case and the lighter whereby the opening of the case sets the mechanism of the lighter, and means for energizing, releasing and operating the mechanism during the closing movement of the case, the said last-mentioned means comprising a rack on the lighter, a bell crank lever with which the rack comes into engagement by one of its ends, at the end of its cocking or setting travel, a wick for the lighter, and a normally latched-s'pringbiased cover for the said wick, which cover is released, whereby it opens under the action of the spring, by the lever, when the latter is actuated by the rack.

9. A combined cigarette case and lighter, in which the cigarette case comprises two parts movable in'relation to each other for opening and closing the case, means cooperating with the cigarette case and the lighter whereb'ythe opening of the case sets the mechanism of the lighter, and means for energizing, releasing and loperating said mechanism during the closing movement of the case, said last-mentioned means comprising a rack on the lighter, a bell crank lever with which the rack comes into engagement by one of its ends, at the end of its eocking or settin travel, a wick for the lighter, and a normally-hitched cover for the said wick, pivoted to that part of the cigarette case carrying the lighter, which cover is released by the lever when the latter is actuated by the rack.

l0. A combined cigarette case and lighter in which the cigarette case comprises two Iparts movable in relation to each other for opening and closing the case, means cooperating with the cigarette ease and the lighter, said means comprising a connecting rod driven during the movement of the parts of the cigarette case, a lever and a guide driven by the said connecting rod, said lever-having a hook thereon, and a rack on the lighter, having a projecting part` theA said lever being so secured to the said guide that it can turn and engage with the projecting part of the rack by means of its hook, for cocking or setting the rack.

1l. A combined cigarette case and lighter in which the cigarette case comprises two parts movable in relation to each other for opening and closing the case, means cooperating with the cigarette case and the lighter, said means comprising a connecting rd driven during the movement of the parts of the cigarette case, a lever and a guide driven by the said connecting rod, said lever having a hook thereon, a rack on the lighter, having a projecting part, a spring tending to urge the rack into its rest position, the said lever being so secured to the said guide that it can turn and engage with the projecting part ofthe rack by means of its hook, the projecting part of the rack also compressing said spring during the closing of t e cigarette case, to cock or set the lighter.

12. A combined cigarette case and pyrophoric lighter, comprising two parts hinged together, a lighter mounted in one part, a spring-operated striking mechanism for the lighter, means secured to the other part of said case for energizing the spring of said mechanism during the greater part of the closing movement of the case, detent means provided for releasing said energized spring towards the end of said closing movement, whereby the striking `mechanism is operated.

13. A combined cigarette case and lighter in which the cigarette case comprises two 1 parts movable relative to each other for o ening or closing the case, a lighter carrie by one of said parts, means cooperatmg with the cigarette case and the lighter whereby the opening of the case sets the mechanism of the lighter, the recess for the cigarettes being separate and closed from the lighter when the case is closed, and means for energizing, releasing and o rating the lighter mechanism during the c osing movement of the case, the lighter being ignited only after the cigarette-containing recess has been substantially closed.

In testimony whereof I have atlixed my signature.

ROBERT FEURER. 

